Adding to Set up with ESS Amt, Need advice on a good SS Preamp :)

[donwayne]

Greetings!
I've been tinkering with my system for a few years now, and here's where it currently stands-

ESS amt 1am speakers ( Got them yesterday, a pain in the ass to move up the stairs, but worth it. They sound freaking great!) Swapped out my KEF 102ab speakers.

Pioneer SX- 950 receiver. I've always liked the silver face sound. Clear and easy, but the ESS's need more juice, so I just bought this on ebay---

Yamaha MX-1 amp. Read all the good reviews and just won the bid on Bay. will be rigging it up as soon as it gets here.

So, my question is- should use the Pioneer as the Pre-amp for the MX-1, or should I buy a different pre-amp? Ive read great things about the Yamaha CX-1 preamp, and, naturally, it seems like a perfect pair, but I can't find any for sale online, and the ones I have seen sold were pricey...

Does anyone think it would be a bad idea to pair the Pioneer to the Yamaha? Or does anyone have an alternate preamp they could recommend that would compliment the gear I currently own?
I'm not much of a tech-y kind of person, I just want it to sound as good as possible, and now that I have the ESS's (which I've always wanted since I first heard them 10 years ago) I want them to live up to their potential.
Thanks for reading, and any help is appreciated.
-Max

 

[halkaloogie]

You're fine using the SX-950 as a pre to the MX-1, if you like the way it sounds then great, if you decide you do want something else then there are a ton of options depending on your budget.

 

[donwayne]

You're fine using the SX-950 as a pre to the MX-1, if you like the way it sounds then great, if you decide you do want something else then there are a ton of options depending on your budget.

Thanks for the quick reply, Hawkalougie. I will definitely try the Pioneer, and that'd be perfect if it sounded perfect because then I wont have to spend any more money...but can things get more perfect?....if so, I'd be willing to spend maybe another 600 bucks for this possibly unattainable perfection. Anyways, thanks again for the reply.

 

[sfox52]

Welcome to AK! Many of us here have been chasing audio perfection for lots of years. Take your time, it can be an endless pursuit.

 

[jcidave]

Greetings!
I've been tinkering with my system for a few years now, and here's where it currently stands-

ESS amt 1am speakers ( Got them yesterday, a pain in the ass to move up the stairs, but worth it. They sound freaking great!) Swapped out my KEF 102ab speakers.

Pioneer SX- 950 receiver. I've always liked the silver face sound. Clear and easy, but the ESS's need more juice, so I just bought this on ebay---

Yamaha MX-1 amp. Read all the good reviews and just won the bid on Bay. will be rigging it up as soon as it gets here.

So, my question is- should use the Pioneer as the Pre-amp for the MX-1, or should I buy a different pre-amp? Ive read great things about the Yamaha CX-1 preamp, and, naturally, it seems like a perfect pair, but I can't find any for sale online, and the ones I have seen sold were pricey...

Does anyone think it would be a bad idea to pair the Pioneer to the Yamaha? Or does anyone have an alternate preamp they could recommend that would compliment the gear I currently own?
I'm not much of a tech-y kind of person, I just want it to sound as good as possible, and now that I have the ESS's (which I've always wanted since I first heard them 10 years ago) I want them to live up to their potential.
Thanks for reading, and any help is appreciated.
-Max
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First, Welcome to AK. I certainly agree with others that you should be able to use the Pioneer as a preamp for the MX-1 with good success. I was unfamiliar with that amp and had to look it up. Pretty impressive specs and I think a good power match for the ESS speakers.
I also have ESS AMT 1a Monitor speakers and am running them with similar power. I have a bunch of other ESS speakers as well.
So try this out, save your money and plan your next move.

 

[sqlsavior]

I like the "take your time" idea. I like to be thoroughly used to one change before making another. It's more fun that way, to me at least. There is nothing wrong with using the Pioneer as a preamp/tuner. Nothing wrong with waiting and saving to better it, either. If you're impatient, Hafler DH-110 preamps are available all day long for $150-200...

Have fun!

 

[donwayne]

I like the "take your time" idea. I like to be thoroughly used to one change before making another. It's more fun that way, to me at least. There is nothing wrong with using the Pioneer as a preamp/tuner. Nothing wrong with waiting and saving to better it, either. If you're impatient, Hafler DH-110 preamps are available all day long for $150-200...

Have fun!

Thanks for the ideas, everybody. I definitely get in these zones where I get a little extra monies and then spend it all without much hesitation... but it’s for things I need... right? With audio visual stuff I don’t feel as much buyers guilt I suppose. Anyways, merryMardi Gras day